Nitpicking the New

It was the littlest thing turned into a big deal. One small detail and they were up in arms about it, looking to tear him down: “Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, ‘Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread (Matthew 15:2, NASB).’”

Isn’t this like us sometimes? We’re upset about someone or something in the church and we start looking for little faults we can use to tear down a person or stop some new approach to ministry. It’s easy to lose sight that God might be doing something new and reaching unreached people for the Kingdom of God. We become defensive of old ways instead of seeking how God is at work. 

Jesus told the Pharisees, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition (Matthew 15:3).” If we have concerns about new things happening in our church, be careful that it does not turn into complaining and a search for faults. Seek whether God is in it, if His Word is being taught, if the Spirit if God is at work. Conversations along those lines will be far more constructive toward seeking to glorify God rather than seeking to tear down one another.